CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)
Resources available for Nutrition in Emergencies Practitioners
VERSION 2 – 27 March 2020

About this resource document : This resource document collates available guidance and tools on the Novel
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) to assist Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE) practitioners in integrating COVID-19
preparedness and response into humanitarian nutrition responses. Given the rapidly evolving situation, please
go to the GNC Website to view the latest guidance available, and visit the COVID-19 forum on en-net to ask
questions and participate in discussions.
KeyCapacity building resources
Considerations for application of guidance in emergency settings

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Preparedness
Health and Nutrition Facility and Systems Management
Prevention and Management of Wasting
Nutritional Support for Patients with COVID-19
Infant and Young Child Feeding
Workplace Precautions
Cross Cutting Issues
Research
COVID-19 General Resources

PREPAREDNESSOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Global humanitarian response plan COVID19. April – December 2020. https://www.unocha.org/sites/unocha/files/Global-Humanitarian-ResponsePlan-COVID-19.pdf
Interagency Standing Committee (IASC). Interim Guidance on Scaling-up COVID019 Outbreak in Readinessand Response Operations in Camps and Camp-like Settings – developed by IFRC, IOM, UNHCR and WHO.
(17 March 2020). Interim guidance for field staff, covering protection considerations, coordination andplanning, risk communications and community engagement, surveillance and case investigation, individual healthscreening, infection prevention and control (IPC) and case management and continuity of essential health services(including breastfeeding/postpartum support). https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/other/interimguidance-scaling-covid-19-outbreak-readiness-and-response-operations-camps-and-camp
World Health Organisation (WHO). COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan: OperationalPlanning Guidelines to Support Country Preparedness and Response (Published 12 Feb 2020)
www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/covid-19-sprp-unct-guidelines.pdf

A related online training has been developed to assist UN country teams in scaling up country preparedness
and response. Time to complete: 2 hours https://openwho.org/courses/UNCT-COVID19-preparedness-andresponse-EN

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2HEALTH AND NUTRITION FACILITY AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
WHO. IPC during health care when COVID-19 infection is suspected (Published 19 March 2020)
Includes standard precautions for facilities to take with all patients (e.g. those attending health and nutrition
facilities for treatment of malnutrition) www.who.int/publications-detail/infection-prevention-and-control-duringhealth-care-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected-20200125

WHO. Advice on the use of masks in the community, during home care and in healthcare settings in thecontext of the COVID-19 outbreak. (19 March 2020) Rapid guidance for public health and IPC professionals,
HCWs and community health workers on use of medical masks. www.who.int/publications-detail/advice-on-theuse-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novelcoronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak
WHO IPC Course for COVID-19
Online training for healthcare workers and public health professionals on what facilities should be doing to beprepared to respond to a case of an emerging respiratory virus such as the novel coronavirus, how to identify
a case once it occurs, and how to properly implement IPC measures to ensure there is no further transmission toHealthcare Workers (HCW) or to other patients and others in the healthcare facility. Time to complete: 1hour https://openwho.org/courses/COVID-19-IPC-EN
WHO Resource Page on COVID-19 Occupational Health (Multiple Resources)
Includes guidance rights, roles and responsibilities of health workers, health workers exposure risk assessmentand management, rational use of PPE and a risk communication package.
www.who.int/news-room/detail/09-03-2020-covid-19-occupational-healthPREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF WASTING➔ Refer to “Health and Nutrition Facility and Systems Management” regarding measures to be taken inacute malnutrition treatment facilities.
*CRITICAL NEW GUIDANCE. IASC. Interim Recommendations for Adjusting Food Distribution Standard
Operating Procedures in the Context of the COVID-19 Outbreak – developed by World Food Programme(WFP). Version 2 (March 2020) Interim Guidance for field coordinators, site managers and public healthpersonnel, as well as national and local governments and the wider humanitarian community working at fooddistribution sites, who are involved in the decision making and implementation of multi-sectorial COVID-19
outbreak readiness and response activities. https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/other/interimrecommendations-adjusting-food-distribution-standard-operating-procedures-context*CRITICAL NEW GUIDANCE. UNICEF, GTAM and GNC. Management of child wasting in the context ofCOVID-19. This Brief is meant to provide information specific to services and programmes for the managementofchildwastinginthecontextofCOVID-19(updatedevery10days).
https://www.ennonline.net/managementofchildwastinginthecontextofcovid19
United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN). Resource List on Food
Systems and Nutrition

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3Responses. Provides links to UN agencies’ responses, food systems, IYCF, school aged children, adults,
emergency nutrition responses and articles of interest. www.unscn.org/en/news-events/recentnews?idnews=2039
WHO. Key planning recommendations for mass gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak(Interim Guidance – Published 19 March 2020) For consideration for nutrition programmes conducting massgatherings (e.g. during distributions organised by supplementary feeding programmes) https://webprod.who.int/publications-detail/key-planning-recommendations-for-mass-gatherings-in-the-context-of-the-current-covid19-outbreak

WHO. Reducing excess mortality from common illnesses during an influenza pandemic (2008) Guideline
which provides strategies for prevention and treatment, at the community and household levels, of the most
likely contributors to mortality from common illnesses during an influenza pandemic and recommendations tosupport a minimum level of continuity for priority public health programmes during a pandemic. Covers acutemalnutrition programmes (p. 24)
www.who.int/diseasecontrol_emergencies/common_illnesses2008_6.pdf

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT FOR COVID-19 PATIENTSNB: No guidance has been identified by GTAM on nutritional support for patients with COVID-19
NB: Breastfed children of patients who are too unwell to breastfeed or who have died may require replacement
feeding with a nutritionally adequate diet (e.g. with donor human milk, through wet nursing1 or with a breastmilk
substitute (BMS)). Note that there is currently no specific recommendation on the safety of wet nursing in thecontext of novel coronavirus disease. The Operational Guidance on Infant Feeding in Emergencies (OG-IFE)
section 6.2 instructs to “establish clear eligibility for BMS use in agreement with the IFE coordination authority.
If criteria are already in place, review and revise as needed. Communicate these criteria to caregivers,communities and emergency responders.”

INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING*CRITICAL NEW GUIDANCE. UNICEF/GNC/GTAM. Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) in the contextof COVID-19. This Brief provides information specific to infant and young child feeding (IYCF) in the context ofCOVID-19 (updated every 10 days) https://www.ennonline.net/covid19brief2*CRITICAL NEW GUIDANCE. WHO. Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection whenCOVID-19 infection is suspected (13 March 2020). Guidance for clinicians caring for hospitalised adult andpaediatric patients. Section 13 contains comprehensive breastfeeding and some artificial feeding guidance.
www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novelcoronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected

1 Also known as allomaternal nursing, breastfeeding of a child by someone other than the child’s biological mother.

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4Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Statement on COVID-19. (10 March 2020) www.bfmed.org/abmstatement-coronavirus
International Lactation Consultants Association (ILCA) Statement on Breastfeeding and Lactation Support
during the COVID-19 Pandemic. (18 March 2020) https://lactationmatters.org/2020/03/18/ilca-statementon-breastfeeding-and-lactation-support-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
La Leche League. Breastfeeding and Coronavirus. Includes media releases, social media material andinfographics. https://www.llli.org/coronavirus-resources/ Available in French and Arabic.
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). COVID-19 Infection in Pregnancy. Information
for healthcare professionals. Version 4.1 (Updated 26 March 2020) Resource for United Kingdom HCWs.
Includes advice to share with pregnant women and advice for services caring for women with or recoveringfrom COVID-19. Section 4.9.2 (p. 31) on infant feeding covers shared decision making and precautions
caregivers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection should take to prevent transmission when feeding
their infant (covers both breastfeeding and formula feeding).
www.rcog.org.uk/coronavirus-pregnancy
Safely Fed Canada. COVID-19 Resources and Statements Related to Breastfeeding. Comprehensive
compilation, including excerpts of guidance. http://safelyfed.ca/covid19-resources/UNICEF. COVID-19: What Parents Should Know. (Accessed 26 March 2020) General information for parents,including precautions families can take to avoid infection and guidance for symptomatic women who arebreastfeeding, including recommended precautions to prevent transmission to an infant.
www.unicef.org/stories/novel-coronavirus-outbreak-what-parents-should-know

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Statement on COVID-19 and pregnancy(Published 6 March 2020) Synthesis of evidence on risks for pregnant women as well as preventive measuresand supportive therapies recommended. Includes guidance for symptomatic women who are breastfeeding,including recommended precautions to prevent transmission to their infant. www.unfpa.org/press/unfpa-statementnovel-coronavirus-covid-19-and-pregnancy

WFP COVID-19 and Breastfeeding. Version 2 (12 March 2020). Interim guidance.
www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/covid-19breastfeedinginterimguidance_20200311.pdf
WHO. Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. (18 March 2020)
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding
WHO. Home care for patients with suspected COVID-19 infection presenting with mild symptoms andmanagement of contacts. (Published 17 March 2020) Guidance for public health professions and HCWs on
issues related to home care for patients with suspected COVID-19 presenting with mild symptoms. See footnote
on p. 2 for breastfeeding guidance.
www.who.int/publications-detail/home-care-for-patients-with-suspected-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-presentingwith-mild-symptoms-and-management-of-contacts

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5WHO. Five keys to safer food. Poster – applicable to preparation of complementary foods.
https://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-hygiene/5keys-poster/en/ Available in French andArabic.
With regard to feeding children expressed breastmilk: as per the OG-IFE Sections 5.9 and 6.23 “the use of…breast pumps should only be considered when their use is vital and where it is possible to clean themadequately, such as in a clinical setting” and “discourage use of feeding bottles and teats due to high risk ofcontamination and difficulty with cleaning. Support use of cups (without spouts) from birth.”
General guidance on IYCF in the context of Infectious Disease Outbreaks can be found in Section 5.40:“Anticipate and assess the impact of human and animal infectious disease outbreaks on IYCF, such as interrupted
access to health and feeding support services; deterioration in household food security and livelihoods,transmission risks via breastfeeding; and maternal illness and death. Take actions to mitigate risks. Interim
guidance may be necessary to address unanticipated IYCF consequences in outbreaks. Consult WHO for up todate advice.” www.ennonline.net/operationalguidance-v3-2017 (available in multiple languages)

WORKPLACE PRECAUTIONS
WHO. Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19. (Published 3 March 2020)
Describes precautions to take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, including during meetings.
www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/getting-workplace-ready-for-covid-19.pdf

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUESGBVGuidelines.
COVID-19resourcestohttps://gbvguidelines.org/en/knowledgehub/covid-19/

address

gender-based

violencerisks.

WFP. Guidance for cash-based transfers in the context of COVID-19. Operational continuity and field support
plan. https://fscluster.org/coronavirus/document/wfp-guidance-cash-based-transfers-0

RESEARCH
Elsevier’s Novel Coronavirus Information Centre
Compilation of expert guidance, clinical information and research for the research and health community.
www.elsevier.com/connect/coronavirus-information-center

Lancet COVID-19 Resource Centre
Compilation of COVID-19 content

fromacrossTheLancet

journals

asitispublished.

www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

Johns Hopkins. COVID-19, Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition – what does the science tell us?
Acompilationofpeer

reviewed

articles,summarisingcontentand

keyfindings.

http://hopkinshumanitarianhealth.org/empower/advocacy/covid-19/covid-19-children-and-nutrition/

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COVID-19 GENERAL RESOURCES
Disaster Ready: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources
Collection of learning resources for healthcare workers and public health professionals (log-in necessary)
https://www.disasterready.org/

Core Group COVID-19 Global Response Coordination
https://coregroup.org/resources/2019-novel-coronavirus-global-response-coordination/

EN-NET COVID-19 and Nutrition Programming Forum
A free and open online forum to discuss emerging challenges related to COVID-19 and ask questions for whichanswers are not readily accessible. www.en-net.org/forum/31.aspx
Johns Hopkins – Global Mapping
Global mapping of cases updated daily.
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

MedBoxCompilation of Context & Facts, Situation Reports & Updates, Clinical Guidelines and Prevention & Control
https://www.medbox.org/toolbox/114M2DGKSphere Standards for the Coronavirus Response
4 page guidance document on relevant parts of the Sphere Handbook.
https://spherestandards.org/resources/coronavirus/

United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN). Resource List on Food Systems andNutrition Responses - related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Link to all UN agency responses
www.unscn.org/en/news-events/recent-news?idnews=2039
WHO Novel Coronavirus Information Landing Page
Information and guidance from WHO, including sitreps, technical guidance and training.
www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
About the Global Technical Assistance Mechanism (GTAM) GTAM is a common global mechanism endorsed by over 40
Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) partners to provide systematic, predictable, timely and coordinated nutrition technicalassistance in order to meet the nutrition rights and needs of people affected by emergencies. The GTAM is co-led by
UNICEF and World Vision International (WVI) in collaboration with a core team (GTAM-CT) comprising of the Emergency
Nutrition Network (ENN) as the Knowledge Management (KM) partner as well as the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) andthe Technical Rapid Response Team (Tech RRT). When country and regional capacities are exhausted, unresolved technicalissues can be escalated to the GTAM. Depending on the issue, the GTAM will provide technical advice, facilitate thedevelopment of consensus-driven guidance (through Global Thematic Working Groups and normative agencies such asWHO) and provide specialized technical expertise. Wherever possible and appropriate, the GTAM seeks to leverage
existing
technical
supportmechanisms.
Forfurtherinformation
abouttheGTAM,
visit:
http://nutritioncluster.net/resources/global-technical-assistance-mechanism-nutrition/

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